The Phillies will look to start a new winning streak after the dropping the series opener last night against the Nationals. Newly acquired Roy Oswalt never really got into a groove against the last place team in the NL East.

Oh the hill for the Phightins will be Joe Blanton. Blanton is coming off one of this strongest starts of the season giving up only two runs throwing six innings and picking up the win against Colorado. It was only his third win in his past eight starts. Kentucky Joe has struggled on the road going 1-4 with a 6.51 ERA.

Ross Detwiler will take the ball for the Nats. Detwiler is coming off his first start of the season against Milwaukee after having surgery on his hip this past offseason. Despite his 0.00 ERA he did take the loss giving up five runs; all unearned.

The Philly bats will look to heat up again. They only scored one run last night courtesy of a Jayson Werth home run; his 15th. Werth is 11 for his last 24 with two homers. He will be batting 4th in the lineup tonight as Ryan Howard has the night off. Domonic Brown, after going 2-4 last night, is in the lineup again batting 6th and playing right field.

Woodchuck is tasty, fairly priced, and won’t dry you out. And one good thing about playing in the Nation’s capitol is that most bars in the area probably carry this Cider. Make it your gameday and celebratory beer tonight. So drink up and cool down. -KC

so tired of seeing the typical 3 runs sub 5th inning from blanton. i have the mlb package and a shiney new laptop, but when he pitches i dont watch for fear of needing to purchase another shiniy new laptop

Holy cr*p, a buddy of mine works at the Post and he just called to tell me that a warrant is going to be issued for Chase Utley’s arrest on Monday. It’s for solicitation, get this, with a MALE prostitute in Times Square. I can’t believe it, but he swears it’s true. Check the Post tomorrow.

It’s like another knife in the heart everytime they open their mouths. We need new announcers who actually LIKE the Phillies. Even when they’re doing well, those two boneheads (along with Sarge) find SOMETHING to complain about.

Wheeler needs to go. He stinks, He’s an ass. He wears a cheap toupee that looks like a dead squirrel on his head. And, he is a real aggressive drunk around women, especially. Overall, a complete disgrace and a boor. Otherwise, a decent fellow.

TMac and Wheels are what they are to us and we’re stuck with them, but they’re fine compared to the Nats announcers…Carpenter sucks & Dibble is like a more blatant & obnoxious Larry Anderson…I mean we know LA is a Philly guy and he shows it, but Dibble was enough of an ass on the field, he doesn’t have to show it so much in the booth…

Can’t read comments on my phone since the new server was implemented but lidge blows. Nobody can seriously stick up for him. Like the oswalt deal, but as much as the jays wanted Gose phils could’ve gotten Downs.

Chuck I had to argue with people about him after the 2 saves last week. Both over 30 pitches which is a disgrace
hey pitch count down tonight.
so hes available tomorrow. Why not have the Nats sweep us

Where is the idiot talking to me about RP WAR and SP WAR etc etc

You dont win with this. Be one thing to be chasing the Mets but we arent. Id pull my pants down to have Kerry Wood be closing for the phils. but we picked up no relievers.
Please the Lidge apologists come out of the woodwork again.

This is Charlie ‘Dumb-Dumb & Dumber’s’ fault. He see’s Lidge doesn’t have it … he puts two men on, he’s erractic and almost hits a guy before giving up a home run and blows another game. Charlie is always trying to prove to Lidge that he’s our closer!!! This is such BS … WE ARE IN A RACE FOR THE PENNANT Charlie!!! If the guy doesn’t have it … yank him … don’t do or die with this mental case!!! Charlie started Oswalt yesterday after a long trip from Huston and not ever having pitched to Ruiz. I blame dumb Charlie for that too!!!

that is demoralizing. whole team plays a great game. except blanton in the first. we manage to come back w/ a severely depleted line up and then that bonehead blows it. these are games that crush momentum,

How can you just serve a meatball, a lollipop, to Zimmerman over the heart of the plate? Should have gift wrapped it. Super big mistake by Lidge. I agree with those who post that this guy does not have it anymore and has to go. Cannot control the fast ball anymore and when he gets behind in the count, hitters just lay on the slider.

I have been saying it for two years. How they keeping use this guy. He is got to be the worst closer in the history of this game. You just lost two games to a joke team. two games. braves lost. we could of gained this game. lidge is not a closer. should not be out there. the only saves he gets are lucky saves. guys are crushing him. what a bad bad lose

As long as Lidge is the “closer”, you can forget about the playoffs. I’m at a loss as to why this organization continues to think he can get the job done. Lidge is most definitely working for everyone, but the Phils. Giving one back to Atlanta can only make the Braves feel more confident. They are really strong this year and need no gifts like this one. Wouldn’t you love to see Zimmerman in a Phils uniform. Oh well, I’ve gotten spoiled by the more recent success of this club.

What has Lidge done for us since 2008? 15 blown saves? Check. Injured multiple times? Check. Multiple heartbreaks? Check. One of the worst moments in Philadelphia sports history by blowing Game 4 when we had all the momentum? Check. Blown saves to bad teams such as the Astros and Pirates? Check. Not admitting he’s just not that good? Check. By the way, nice job improving that bullpen before the deadline Ruben.

I figured I would just repost what i posted on last nights game, its relevant after tonight.

I am so frustrated with watching Amaro be a weak GM. Everyone is saying how cheap we got Oswalt and we practically stole him…but why did we even want him? We stole something we didnt want or need. Our starters were fine, we started winning games when our lineup starting hitting. What we NEEDED was a bullpen arm. The first time I even heard the Phillies were interested in Oswalt I was instantly saying no no no. We didnt need him, no body shouldve wanted him and I think a lot of people are going to be agreeing with me when October rolls around, whether were not playing, or our bullpen will be losing games.

SAD THING IS I THINK LIDGE KNOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE!!!! JUST COME UP WITH A INJURY EXCUSE EVERY TIME HE BLOWS IT!!!!!I SO SICK OF THIS!!!!YOUR TEAM JUST BATTLED TO GET THE LEAD!!!!!!WTFFFFFFFFF

There’s nothing to be said that hasn’t already been said the last YEAR AND A HALF. Manuel has an inexplicable hard on for Lidge, and last year the division was bad enough that we could get to the WS with it but its not gonna cut it this year. Most obviously.

But last year everyone was SCREAMING for a new closer, Lidge had the worst closer’s ERA/record in all of baseball and Manuel closed by committee…maybe two times? And they still have done nothing on the grounds of trading for one. He’s like the little sore spot that is so FREAKING OBVIOUS, but no one wants to address or fix because…he’s a good person?

He’s killed the team since Opening Day ’09. We’re not gonna be able to get by with it that much longer. Tonight was proof. Now we have to avoid being swept by the Nationals.

Obviously frustrated and who on this site wouldn’t be; we’ve had a HUMONGOUS problem on this team for almost two years now and for some reason no one affiliated with the team wants to address or fix it.

Lidge was fortunate to get out of jams in his last 2 games and after those 2 games, with his history, you knew another blown game was right around the corner for this guy. He constantly flirts with disaster out there. Make a one on one trade for a reliever from another team ASAP and get this guy out of here.

Bwhahahahahahahahaha!!! So sorry that your busloads of Filthy fans will be going home drunk and pissed off. Maybe they’ll vomit on each other like that loser Filthy fan who did it at YOUR OWN PARK to a father and his daughter.

It was instantly clear, as I’m sure it was to Manuel, that he was going to blow it. Squeezing the fastball, begging the slider to get over when he needed a strike. Why not yank him after the walk? Why let it transpire as though you’re powerless to stop it?

Sad thing is, Lidge will remain the closer for the rest of the year. He will not be pulled from his role, and he’ll blow at least 4 more games this year, maybe even more. The Phillies will lose tomorrow to complete being swept, and never come closer than 2 games to the Braves. They will lose the wild card by at least 4 games and be the single most disappointing team in Philadelphia history. I’m not over reacting, I’m being honest. That 8-game winning streak was a mirage, having beaten the worst and third worst teams in the NL. The fourth worst team is too much for them Fightins. 2008 was lightning in a bottle, catching fire at the right time and getting it done. 2009 was an odd combination of no lead is ever safe and always find a way to win. 2010 is struggle at the plate and pray that a lead can be kept, if you can even get one. Ugh.

Charlie becomes a deer in the headlights when it comes to lidge. Madson sucks as a closer, contreras was a gamer, but not the answer, Baez(LOL), Mathiason save rate in AAA is awful, so the only think left is obtain a closer or roll the dice.

Mathieson throws hard but WAY to straight big leaguers will go yard on him over and over again. My vote goes to michael schwimer in AAA, he spilts saves with Mathieson and rarely has let’s downs, does have a heater like mathieson but had some nasty pitches that move all over

this is as much on charlie – he ABSOLUTELY needed to yank lidge off the mound when zimmerman was coming up!!! it was obvious that lidge was struggling from the first hit and chooch’s visits to the mound… lidge may as well as had a neon sign on his head that said TAKE ME OUT. leaving him in was basically giving the game away so he could stand by his closer. outrageous.

I am so pissed!!! Lidge and Dobbs should be selling icecream bars in the stands not playing ball on the field. They both stink!!! We are not going to get to the playoffs if we keep blowing leads in the 9th. We need to get a bonafide closer or something close to it. Anything is better then Lidge!!!!

lidge has talent ….but excuse my french but brade lidge is a ” PUSSY” he gets scraded and he wounder just got and throw gas then throw that nasty slider and then its on to the next guy …but he worries about adam dunn and walkin zimmerman he throws a fastball down the pipe to a 3 time all star…(shaking my Head)

this is a joke. Send Lidge down, release him, anything but ever rely on his sorry a$$ again. How does this guy face anybody on the team? If Charlie puts him in again in a save situation then he needs to go too. Get past this “He’s our guy, he’s our closer” bull$hit.
I wanna see the team leaders step up and call Lidge out. They’ve worked too hard and overcome injury after injury, just to have this yahoo f*ck things up.
Golden opportunity to get a game on Atl, and he blew it. Go find a bridge and jump off. Then we’ll christen it “The Lidge Bridge”.

Amaro is to blame for not getting a closer when he has to know we need one…he’s to busy getting the big name guy on the market rather then getting what we need…I don’t think he will be the gm for a long time…oswalt is prolly thinking this is houston all over again when lidge was there…at least their manager had the balls to remove him from closing before they traded him…just pathetic…

@Dylan…..thats because contreras is not afriad to blow his 95 plus fastball then when the hitter is tuned in for a fastballl he throws his nasty off speed stufff. thats a real closer and he is a 36 year old fomer stater

12 men left on base tonight; Ibanez and Brown left 5 runners stranded each but to Ibanez’s credit, had a big 2-run HR. Ransom did nothing at the plate and left 3 runners; nothing on offense in place of Howard tonight. Early in game, could not get the one big hit. Lidge gave this one away but would help if this team could get on the board with some runs early in the game too to possibly alleviate tight late game situations.

Manuel’s “He’s our one and only closer” excuse just doesn’t cut it anymore. It can’t get any worse. He had all of last year to work out his issues. It’s clear to any sentient walking biped that he can’t do his job anymore. … Hell, what’s the use of ranting here. I can’t even think about sleep, I’m so disgusted.

Ruben Amaro tries to plug a leak at one end by aquiring Roy Oswalt but … he leaves a gusher at the other end with Brad Lidge. So, I ask you …. ‘What good is this trade going to do for us if we don’t plug up the other hole?’

You think downs would clear waivers?they can still get him,but he has to clear waivers…they gotta do something this can’t go on lidge is done I would give him the money he is owed,say thank you for 08,but bye bye buddy…

lidge needs to go; not mad at Howard either but maybe should have been playing. Except for Lidge giving up the game, maybe Howard’s bat might have made the difference in this tight game tonight where the game might not have wound up so close at the end.

Couldn’t agree more with “Keegan’s”above statement. Would like to add to it just a bit. Lidge’s performance is definitely lacking. The guy is lacking ALL SELF-CONFIDENCE!!!! I’m thinking the guy needs some Anxiety Medication and some one needs to tell him that he needs to breathe while he is on the mound!!!!! He knows he has blown yet, ANOTHER game…. for Charlie to put him in, even one more time this season…. is unconscionable!!!!

Final Thought!!!….. Howard goes over 14 and is BENCHED for it……….
Lidge pitches like Shit for a year and a half….. And gets to pitch like Shit for yet another night!!!

I’ve always respected Charlie….. It sucks that I’m starting to doubt him after this whole Lidge fiasco!!!

Just get him the f/uck off the roster. .like right now. I dont wanna see him in a Phillies jersey. He no longer deserves to wear a Phillies uni. This isnt 1989. Things have changed. This team is about warriors. Not p.ussies that are afraid to challenge adam kennedy with a 3~2 fastball!

Why is it that the Washington Nationals manager was pulling out all the stops to beat us by pulling pitchers, double switches etc. while Charlie Manuel sit’s in the dugout with a mouth full of bubble gum and sits idly by while Brad Lidge gives up a hit, a walk and has no control of his pitches. Any other manager would have yanked him after the walk. Why does it always have to be do or die when Lidge is pitching. Frig his self confidence and feelings … we’re supposed to be out to win ball games not pamper mental cases.

I think Charlie and Jerry Manuel are brother’s from another Mother, both are stubborn idiots, Charlie is just lucky he has a good team, other than that he’d be gone by last year, Jerry will be after this year.

Sorry Folks, I know this is a VERY unpopular opinion, but SAM is correct. Lidge is Charlies guy. Charlie went to get him, Charlie sticks with him, Charlie pushed for a new contract, Charlie sat there and watched him put two men on. Who didnt know that was going to happen? If you didnt think that was going to happen, I have a GREAT bridge for you to buy! Ricky Bottalico summed it up perfectly, “the team doesnt trust the closer, the bench doesnt trust the closer”. I cant imagine after the outings he has had lately in the closers role why, when he had 2 on, 1 out, he would stay with him. STUPID decision by Charlie. This game was ours. Imagine if we had a good closer? Wow, we would probably be in first place, but thats the difference between a 1st place team, and a 2nd place team. The first place team sadly has a closer. How many games have we lost because of a blown save, 6? Think about it. 6 games list because of the closers, 2 of them STARTED the 9th with a 4 run lead, and only became a “save” because of the backend of the bullpen. The season is not over, but Charlie continues to sit there as he watches “his closer” not be able to close out a game without a 3 run lead (and even that is safe) we will NOT make the playoffs, and forget about the division. We NEED a closer, we said it last season, we say it again this season. I know some want to blam RAJ, but RAJ isnt the one in the dugout watching Lidge choke. He has a GREAT 2008, a bad 2009, and a mediocre 2010 so far. He has done better in the non-save situations this season. As Charlie works on Lidges Self confidence, the rest of the team sees him comes out and they roll their eyes thinking CRAP, not again. As for “retire to Colorado”, GOD PLEASE NO! Maybe we can trade him to the Mets?

Thats just his way. He did the same thing as the Cubs manager. Overkill managing that dont usually amount too much. Losing 2 in a row to a team dressed like the staff of a Sonic is humilating. Im surprised they werent wearing roller skates.

How are people blaming RAJ? We didn’t need a closer. We have one. His name is Jose Contreras, and in save situations, he was 3/3 (he does have a blown save, but he didn’t start the 9th, it was in Extra innings , the 10th.)

The guy has loaded the bases this year, then struck out the side. He doesn’t blow his composure, Lidge does. Manuel needs to stop effing around with his bullpen “roles”, and just put whomever gets the job done out there. The Nats gave us this win, then Lidge and Manuel, not RAJ, handed it right back to them. What if Lidge had pitched the 7th? Let’s assume he gets out of it. Then Contreras, a guy who didn’t struggle at all as closer, could perhaps have had a better chance. I believe he faced the same batters, not 100% sure, but guess what, he didn’t give up any ER.

I beg to differ. Yanks can add all the hitters they want. Remember those rangers teams that never got out of the 1st round? Aj burnt and the crew got issues. Yanks are vukn in a best of 5. Esp texas. Nl got hf. Lance berkmans only a pinch hitter 4/7 potential ws games. U need 2 great pitchers to knock the yanks off. Last yr we had only 1. Now we gnt 3.

@Greg – Exactly- I’ve been saying that all year. He did throw one really bad pitch to Nate McClouth in Atlanta to lose a game, but otherwise he has for the most part pitched well, and just looks a lot more like a closer to me. He has that demeanor, that killer instinct on his face. I’d certainly like to give him a few more shots at closing.

Also(again and again I question this) why let Blanton hit in the fifth when you know that he will self destruct in the sixth or seventh. On the Nationals broadcast last night they clearly pointed out that when a lineup reaches it’s third rotation against him in mid to late games opposing hitters are batting .372! After facing him twice, they figure him out, or he gets tired or something. Cholly has to know this, the Nationals knew it and they’ve seen him what-twice this season?. Cholly has to get the intel and use it. Maybe he gets pressured by upper management to keep him in games due to salary?? Maybe the BP has pitched so badly he doesn’t think he has a choice?

If he’s going to let Blanton bat before his third time around in the opposing lineup, you might as well let Contreras bat after he has a 1-2-3 innning.